Everyone has heard the adage one mans trash is another mans treasure. This has never been more true with the recent trend to upcycle, or turn something that may no longer be useful into something new.
Upcycling is the act of taking an unused item and literally turning it into an item you will use, says Amber Bosma, marketing manager for UsedEverywhere.com. Essentially you take something thats no longer wanted or needed and turn it into something fabulous.
Almost anything can be upcycled, from old furniture to clothing to construction materials. I think the most popular upcycle Ive seen lately involves pallets, says Bosma. Ive seen pallets turned into garden swings, into bed frames and into beautiful coffee tables!
Other creative projects include turning old clothing into pillows (or a dog bed for man or womans best friends perhaps?), making jars into lanterns or candleholders or updating an old mirror with a new frame or paint.
That bulky old television cabinet turns into a kids play kitchen, suggests Bosma. The inherited grandfather clock you dont like but want to keep becomes a stylish shelf.
If craft projects fill your heart with dread or conjure up some bad memories of school projects, you dont need to worry. Upcyling doesnt need to be complicated and it doesnt have to require unlimited creativity.
Use the Internet to follow upcycling blogs for inspiration, Bosma says. For example, the UsedEverywhere.com blog has an upcycling series that shows you items that can be found inexpensively or even for free on our websites and then offers several upcycling options for that item.
Pintrest and Facebook are also a great source for upcycling ideas.
Choose good quality items to upcycle, says Bosma. The item itself may be ugly, but whats important is the quality of the material. An upcycle can be as simple as a lick of paint and new handles or as complicated as your imagination allows.
Upcycled items are more than just unique; theyre also much kinder to the environment. Why throw it away when it can be reused and given a new lease on life? says Bosma. If you love unique pieces of furniture then upcycling is the way to go, plus you get to add your own flair if its a do-it-yourself project. And best of all, if you love to bag a bargain, upcycling your own items is much cheaper than buying new.
Suddenly spending weekends scouring garage sales sounds much more appealing! You never know what treasures youll find or what will inspire your next project.
